LINDA DAUGHERTYAll plays premiered at the Dallas Children's Theater
Production photos by Linda Blase
except, ANANSE, THE AFRICAN SPIDERMAN
photo by J.D. Scott of The Alliance Theatre Company,
HANS BRINKER OR THE SILVER SKATES
photo by Robyn Sachs, and
THE SECRET LIFE OF GIRLS
photo by Mark Oristano,EAT artwork by John Henson

Note: Clicking on an underlined title will display a dialogue samplefrom that script in Adobe Acrobat PDF format which you may read in
your Adobe Reader software or download and print

EAT (IT’S NOT ABOUT FOOD)

Premiered April 11, 2008, at Dallas Children’s Theater

Available through
Dramatic Publishing Company
311 Washington St.
Woodstock, IL 60098

EAT (It’s Not About Food) examines the dangerous and baffling world of eating disorders in girls and boys. Using interwoven vignettes, ranging from realistic to satirical to humorous, EAT candidly explores causes and warning signs, takes a hard look at the influences of society and the media, and tells individual stories of young people struggling with this epidemic and too often tragic problem.

“ ... Linda Daugherty has never been one to avert her eyes from issues facing young people today. ... EAT inspires as much laughter as it does tears. ... The emotional impact is raw and unapologetic ... awe-inspiring ... It is a difficult hour to spend in the theater. But it is also one of the most revelatory plays I’ve seen. It makes the inevitable pain one will feel well worth it, especially if it means a deeper understanding.”

- People Newspapers, Dallas, Texas

“ ... a gutsy, arresting and daringly, darkly humorous world premiere ... powerful ... laudable script ... leaving open the possibility of changing and perhaps even saving lives of both young audience members and friends whom they now may recognize as needing help ... ”

- The Dallas Morning News

"EAT illuminates the struggle of those who suffer and of those who love them. I’ve encouraged my former patients and their families and friends to take this hour long journey knowing they will leave with hope and an inspiration to spread the word about eating disorders. Linda Daugherty is saving lives with her brilliant work."

“Playwright Linda Daugherty writes with profound insight and compassion bringing to life the drive for perfection, the overwhelming loneliness and the self-loathing that are all too common for those who struggle with disordered eating. This exceptional play will forever change the way you look at the world of Eating Disorders and those who struggle to regain control of their lives.”

- Dr. Elizabeth HughesExecutive DirectorThe Elisa Project,a 501(c)(3) organization that promotes healthy living and
awareness of the signs of disordered eating through
educational programs and resources

“Using humor, candor, and humility, [Linda Daugherty] weaves together sketches of daily life demonstrating the internal and external struggles that we all face in dealing with food and body image ... EAT cleverly demonstrates how perceived social norms influence how we see ourselves ... This is not a show about eating disorders. This is the story of American, and more recently international, obsession with food, appearance, and body image ... This show is a wake up call [that] will motivate individuals to do things differently in their own lives.”

- Susan Sugerman, MD, MPH
Girls to Women Health and Wellness, PADr. Sugerman is co-founder of Girls to Women Health and Wellness, PA,
a multidisciplinary medical practice in North Dallas
dedicated to the physical and emotional well-being of
adolescent and young adult women

“In her powerful new play, EAT, Linda Daugherty eloquently tells the story of the devastating and far reaching impact of eating disorders. Daugherty’s EAT provides the audience with a powerful and insightful visual medium through which to understand the complicated and often not well understood inner world of young people with eating disorders.”

Included in Theater for Children:Fifteen Classic Plays
published by St. Martin's Press

Cricket struggles to come to terms with her older teenage brother Tom who has Down syndrome and is obsessed with the legendary movie tap dancers. Throughout the play Tom's visualization of his inner self is revealed through the appearance of an elegant, imaginary tap dancer in top hat and tails.

"[Bless Cricket is] a stunning world premier...a cunning yet empathetic script...all eyes were riveted, all breaths held in check...economical and blessedly unpedantic... The entire production knows how to tangle messy feelings and yet highlight, for our benefit, exactly what they are and where and how they twist and overlap."

- Dallas Observer

"Bless Cricket for avoiding the obvious. While the result is entertaining, uplifting and refreshingly droll, Daugherty does not shrink from poignancy. This is an ideal family show, but it offers much for adult playgoers as well."

National Endowment for the Arts Award Recipient
Theatre Communications Group Award Recipient
Dallas Theatre League Nomination for Outstanding New Play or Musical

Viva Coyote! Based on traditional folklore from Mexico and the American Southwest, these whimsical and vibrantly colorful tales sprinkled with Spanish language dialogue dramatize the adventures of Señor Coyote, a mischief maker of legendary proportions with an appetite to match. Coyote, the trickster, tries to outwit El Sol, (the sun), appease El Sol’s love, La Luna (the moon) and chase his next meal (Dog, Fox, Rabbit, Chicken, Prairie Dog or Raccoon) all of whom conspire to rid the desert of the pesky “Señor Yip Yip.

“Coyote has kids howling ... often seems as much a party as a play ... nimble, high-spirited characters ... builds a bridge to a too-seldom-seen treasure trove of stories.”

Book by Linda Daugherty
Music by Danny Ray
Lyrics by Danny Ray and Linda Daugherty

Dallas Theatre League Nomination for Outstanding
New Play or Musical

In this musical dramatization of Mary Mapes Dodge’s classic, inspiring story of courage, character, friendship, and devotion to family and country, the audience is taken from the frozen canals of Amsterdam during the joyous Christmas season where young people joyfully skate in preparation for the big race, to the dikes where Hans’ father leads the fight to save the city from a rampaging storm, to Hans’ home where his family desperately tries to solve the mystery of their lost life savings. Actors wear inline skates to simulate ice skating in this rousing and heartwarming alternative to standard Christmas holiday fare.

“Downright dazzling... zippy and warm... warms up the season... The world premiere by the Dallas Children’s Theater proved an affirmation of family, friendship and character in the face of extreme hardship... [I]t resonated with the mood of a country challenged by tragedy... rousing score by Ms. Daugherty and Mr. Ray... a heartwarming treat... illuminates choices that inspire. At the end of the cleverly staged, final, breathless race for the silver skates, the real winner is the audience ...”

- The Dallas Morning News

“If you’ve never left a musical production thinking to yourself, ‘That was a touching story with a powerful score and some excellent skating,’ here’s your chance.”

- The Albuquerque News-Bulletin

“It’s very 19th century literature, but it’s lovely. The emotions are real... there is a happy ending in this that isn’t brought about by magic - it happens because people are good to each other... Starlight Express is on skates but this is the only time I’ve seen skates used in a dramatic story like this. It’s exciting.”

A window into the tumultuous world of a group of middle school girls is opened in this dramatization of the destructive effects of girls’ bullying. The girls’ attempts to deal with bullying in the form of gossiping, name-calling, exclusion, rumors, back-biting, cliques and manipulation as they struggle to find a friend, a place in the group and themselves range from humorous to heart breaking. Based upon interviews with girls on the giving and receiving end of bullying, The Secret Life of Girls also dramatizes how bullying behaviors are facilitated by technologies such as cell phones, e-mail, chat rooms and instant messaging.

"This play is not about real life. It is real life … If you have a daughter under 18, you need to see this show. And if she's over 11, you need to take her with you. Linda Daugherty's powerful script …[is] what many say the theater should bea moment for reflection about what's true and, in this case, dangerously hidden."

- People Newspapers
Dallas, Texas

"… totally sold out. [DCT] had to extend the run of The Secret Life of Girls to keep up with demand … [H]ealth professionals have jumped on board to participate in discussions that follow each performance. Linda Daugherty's world premiere … packs quite a shock."

- The Dallas Morning News

"Take every female you know to see this play, then go somewhere and talk. It is a candid, stark, and artistically brutal look at bullying, peer pressure, self-abuse, and finding one's own value. … shocking and boldly written."

- Better Than Broadway.com

"Playwright Linda Daugherty tells the truth of destructive dynamics, and she tells it with wisdom, compassion, and sensitivity. The Secret Life of Girls offers both insight and hope."

"This brave study of teen girl angst presents an unfortunately realistic and sobering view of what our kids are facing. Hopefully, the conversation Daugherty starts with The Secret Life of Girls will be continued in homes, schools, and communities, giving all of us a chance to respond and offer solutions to the difficulties that many of our young women face."

“Oh, no,” says Skin Horse, “Real isn’t how
you’re made. It’s something that happens to
you. When a child loves you for a long, long
time, not just to play with, but really loves
you, then you become real.”

In this musical dramatization of Margery Williams’ timeless, classic tale of the transformative power of love, a stuffed toy rabbit is brought to life when he is chosen by a young boy to be his playmate.

“When the puppeteer finally casts off the puppet body to become the character he has manipulated, there is a feeling of exhilaration and freedom almost as if, for the first time, the body and the soul are one [and is] one of the many brave choices in this affecting holiday tale that gives children credit for seeing more than meets the eye... Elegantly adapted from the Margery Williams book by DCT’s resident playwright, Linda Daugherty.... It’s enough to send the kids home determined to hug their own stuffed toys a little more tightly.”

"Oh, that tricky spiderman. He's fast as the wind
and, just when you think you can swat him,
he's up the wall and out the window."

In this adaptation of the most popular of all African folk tales, the wily trickster Ananse the Spiderman weaves a web of adventures in the jungle and the sky. Fantastic fables featuring characters such as Nana Nyame, God of the Sky, the Leopard-of-the-Terrible-Teeth, the Hornet-Who-Stings-Like-Fire, and the Fairy-Men-Never-See are brought to life by actors playing both humans and animals.

"Ananse is no itsy-bitsy entertainment. [It] is a breath of fresh air. The young audience was enthralled. A great introduction for American children to West African folklore."

- Kansas City Star

"...sets a new standard of excellence for Stage One ... the stories are as old as biblical parables and as contemporary as Bugs Bunny outwitting Elmer Fudd."

- The Courier-Journal
Louisville, Kentucky

“The trickster holds a special place in literature, using cleverness to turn the tables in various incarnations from the Southwestern coyote to Shakespeare’s Fool to the modern animated Bugs Bunny and Bart Simpson...brings the rich African story telling tradition to life...”

In the clouds at the top of the beanstalk, Jack finds the proverbial giant (so tall only his boots can be seen), his over worked, over-wrought wife, an aria-singing harp, a golden egg laying chicken with performance anxiety and a blue-eyed stranger who looks surprisingly like Jack's long lost father.

"Even kids raised on Nintendo and Star Wars shouldn't get restless during this production. Small fries eat this stuff like tapioca pudding, while unconsciously absorbing some positive messages about the fun and excitement of the theater."

- Dallas Observer

"A spirited sparkle has been added to this timeless story. Side-splitting humor appeals to the entire family."

- Kilgore News Herald
Kilgore, Texas

5W, 8M, 7+ Children

[A One Hour Version (3W, 4M with doubling) is also available]

Note: Sheet music for Ode to an Overgrown Ogre,
from the play, is included with the script

"Arthur, you will be an extraordinary
king because you were an ordinary boy." - Merlin

The story of King Arthur's boyhood unfolds through the eyes of Merlin who, using fun and fantasy, instills in young Arthur the qualities necessary to become king. Plenty of sword play and pageantry highlight the young King Arthur's journey from the nurturing country home of his adoptive family to the teeming streets of London and the dramatic sword in the stone.

"Fresh insight ... [and] warmly scripted characters ... make this a journey worth taking. The children in the audience followed in rapt attention."

Armadillos, roadrunners, prairie dogs and coyotes join in song and dance with "the world's first cowboys" in chronicling the exploits of Pecos Bill, Chuckwagon Annie and Slewfoot Sue. Toe-tapping songs include "Headed West!," "Take Us to the Pecos," "Cattle Drive!," and "I Reckon I'll Know Her When I See Her But I Sure Ain't Seen Her Yet."

"hilariously funny ... there's a neatly camouflaged focus on big ideas in this new musical for children ... clever tunes ."

- The Dallas Morning News

"... an educational and entertaining event for children and adults. The singing and dancing cowboys brought the house to tears from laughing so hard."

Three classic fairy tales (The Three Little Pigs, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears) begin in their usual "once upon a time" fashion; however, this time things change on the way to "happily ever after" as the pigs wonder what life would be like if the wolf were not always at their door, the billy goats gruff can't face another trip-trap over the troll's bridge, and Papa Bear has had enough of the meddlesome little girl Goldilocks! Assisted by The Voice (struggling to narrate the changing stories) and three Stagehands (desperately trying to juggle sets to keep the stories straight), the three trios join forces to rewrite their stories, ridding themselves of their respective villains by exchanging them. In the process, the family audience is inspired to conquer their fears by taking control of their own lives.

"Sheer charm...a keeper. Surprising Story gives classic tales some plucky twists...Smiles snowball into chuckles...[as kids] are totally along for the ride. Best of all is Ms. Daugherty's message of empowerment...inspir[ing] kids to come up with creative solutions to problems in their own lives. And to laugh a little bit in the process."

- The Dallas Morning News

"This excellent show for a company of young actors provides roles for many levels of experience for a large group of both boys and girls. These are characters that young people have grown up with; yet, the humor that follows the interweaving of the classic stories is sophisticated and fun."

- Kineta Massey, Director
Rosebud Players
Dallas Children's Theater

Play has a total of 18 roles which may be performed by 13 W/M with doubling

"'All that glitters is not gold,'
Tells the rhyme from days of old.
Gold warms not this beating heart.
Not gold but life ... life lights the dark."

The classic fairy tale is brought to life through a madcap Rumpelstiltskin who speaks in verse, a conniving parent, a greedy king, wacky royal servants, and romance between the prince and a peasant girl.

"Ms. Daugherty has made a specialty of updating time worn legends, and Rumpelstiltskin is another feather in her cap. The play builds an absorbing, complex mood. Every dire development has its paradoxical upside, and every cause for joy bears a burden of fear."

Winner of the
Southwest Theatre Association's
Best New Children's Play Award

A modern day family is in conflict when, on the first night of Hanukkah, the teen-age son is given a small menorah by his grandmother. In this celebration of the holiday of Hanukkah and the rich traditions of Judaism, the menorah is a catalyst for a journey back and forth in time in which the family finds meaning in their lives and their future together.

"A touching and courageous holiday piece."

- The Dallas Morning News

"... a remarkable example of fine educational theater."

- The Met, Dallas, Texas

The Dallas Morning News Top Ten Theater Pick for 1992

Awarded BEST NEW CHILDREN'S PLAY of the Year 1995
by Southwest Theatre Association

When this high energy, caring, gin rummy playing, fairy godmother is not presiding over the fairy dome, she is out in the field helping her clients "turn up that little voice inside that says, 'You can do it!' 'You're wonderful!' 'Take charge of your life!' 'Go for it!' 'Listen to your heart!' 'Dream your dream!' " One of her favorite cases, Cinderella, puts this advice to good use and, in spite of her wicked stepmother and selfish stepsisters, heads for the ball and marries the handsome prince.

"With smart writing by playwright Linda Daugherty and enjoyable music and lyrics by Andi Gordon, the show conveys the desirability of taking responsibility for one's own life with a light touch and sense of fun. Tuneful songs ... good humor ... a heroine with gumption."

Faithful to the original classic story, this play tells the heartwarming tale of a spirited orphan sent to live with her reclusive grandfather high in the Alps. Snatched away from her carefree mountain life, she becomes a companion to the invalid daughter of a wealthy German family. Though desperate to return home, young Heidi develops an enduring friendship with the invalid Clara and helps her find hope and happiness. When Heidi is finally allowed to return to the mountains and her beloved grandfather, Clara follows her and with Heidi's inspiration learns to walk.

"Clever touches ... thrilled the young audience ... and charmed young viewers. "

Traditional African folk tales are brought to life as Mmoatia-the Fairy-Men-Never-See is trapped and tricked by villagers into telling Why Lion Roars, Why Lightning and Thunder Live in the Sky, and Why Mosquitoes Buzz in Human's Ears. With actors playing humans, animals, thunder, lightning and an ant heap, this small cast script is ideal for full productions, touring, or the classroom.

"... succeeds on all levels, delivering a clever, colorful, witty play about a legendary trickster forced to explain some of nature's minor mysteries ... tells its three fables through inventive, poetic language and simple songs. "

In this play within a play set in early twentieth century Russia, a colorful troupe of actors in a small provincial theater is presenting a dramatization of the Russian classic fairy tale about Snegorka, the daughter of St. Nicholas, who braves adversity and saves Christmas by finding the lost reindeer and riding the lead reindeer herself on St. Nicholas' appointed rounds. When the temperamental leading lady, who plays the role of Snegorka, breaks her leg in the first act of the play, she is replaced by the shy but stage struck dresser who saves the show.

"Oh, what's this that wakes me? Are you day or night?
Dawn or dusk? I fear I've napped too long. It's always
thus with me. For time means little to fairies, darting
here and there. We are our own masters and do just
as we please - following our fancies to adventure. An
hour, a day, a year - the same. Time is but a circle in
which we play. And so it is with the adventures I shall
relate. The story lives in the past and the present and,
let us hope, the future! I'll begin ... but where? Ah, yes,
oh, yes! I'll begin ... but not at the beginning.

In this new take on the classic fairy tale, in which the action moves back and forth in time over a hundred years, the noble squire, not the prince, is hero. Beauty speaks through the squire's dreams, the Forgotten Fairy shifts shapes from black knight to black spider, and a nervous nursemaid and juggling jester provide the laughs.

"Everyone will enjoy the Dallas Children's Theater's production of Sleeping Beauty, the classic fairy tale with new twists of adventure, danger and excitement ... fun for the entire family."

- The Dallas Morning News

Play has a total of 23 speaking roles performed by 12W, 11M, plus extras
(some roles may be doubled)

[A One Hour Version with 11 roles (5W, 6M which may double to 3W, 4M)
is also available]

Ellen Marsden and her two children face Christmas after the loss of their husband and father. Alone in the kitchen assembling toys on Christmas Eve, Ellen discovers an intruder in a Santa suit. It really is Santa! With the help of Santa, a caring policeman and a nosy neighbor, the Marsden family rediscovers the meaning, joy and laughter of Christmas.

For this play, Ms. Daugherty was named PLAYWRIGHT OF THE YEAR 1993 by the Southwest Theatre Association.

" ... a play best described by the audience's reaction ... the dialogue is so well written that kindergarten children were unusually attentive ... adults listened knowingly - many in tears as the play ended ... older children entered into the action from the start."

In the twenty-second century, Pinocchio is a boy android built by marooned space explorer J. Petto. Pinocchio's adventures lead him to the planet Temptor, to the inside of a planet-swallowing black hole, and into the clutches of intergalactic travel agent Bernard J. Foxworth and his associate Miss Delila Cat who sell Pinocchio a one way ticket to Virtual Reality Theme Park. With the help of the Star Fairy, Pinocchio becomes a real boy and saves his father and the planet Earth from the villain Kog's evil plan.

In this Christmas "Who Done It?" ace detective Red Mistletoe is retained by the citizens of the North Pole to find Santa Claus. Do the merry miscreants, Bob Humbug, Fruit Cake and Holly Wreath, know anything about Santa's whereabouts? If losing Santa wasn't enough, at the moment of his disappearance, the entire North Pole and all who live there are transformed from their usual colorful state to that of an old black and white film noir. Can Red find Santa and bring a colorful Christmas to the children of the world?

"Santa Claus detective story wraps up fun and suspense. Linda Daugherty's new play for the DCT offers up a lively confection that leaves us feeling good about the whole darn holiday season."

Delightful new characters, novel plot twists and a message about the ecology of land and ocean life made this exciting adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairy tale a sold out success at the Dallas Children's Theater.